Is the finite intersection of prime ideals radical

abstract-algebraidealsmaximal-and-prime-ideals

Does there exist a ring $R$ and finitely many prime ideals $P_i$ such that $\cap_{i = 1}^n P_i$ is not radical ideal?

In other words, is the finite intersection of prime ideals a radical ideal?

Best Answer

Consider a commutative unital ring $R$ and some prime ideals $P_1, \dots, P_n.$

Claim. We have that $I = P_1 \cap \cdots \cap P_n$ is radical, i.e., $\sqrt I = I.$

Proof. Considering that radicals distribute over intersections, we have that $$\sqrt I = \sqrt{P_1 \cap \cdots \cap P_n} = \sqrt{P_1} \cap \cdots \cap \sqrt{P_n}.$$ But prime ideals are radical, so $\sqrt{P_i} = P_i$ implies that $\sqrt I = I.$ QED.